Monday, 19 October 2015

Man the Barricades! Herefordshire Big Game, October 2015

After months of seemingly endless preparation, another Big Game has come and gone.

The overall ‘story arc’ was a continuation of the border
campaign, where the rebel Anglican League have been trying to wrestle control
of the railway line(s) that snake down the Welsh border from the Royalist and
Fascist forces.

Once again we were honoured to play host to 15 players (2
sadly had to drop out at the last minute), which meant we could set the action
across three tabletop battlefields – these being:-

Kinnersley – The
Anglican League had decided on a bold thrust from their salient at Eardisley
towards Leominster, hoping that such a move would, at the very least, draw
government forces from the impasse at Bredwardine (see below) and at best sever
communications between Leominster and Hereford.

However a royalist platoon from Shropshire had recently
arrived at the village of Kinnersley and had to be rooted out first, whilst the
King’s Colonials had pulled back from the siege of Kington and, hearing of this
attack, hoped to swoop down on the Anglicans’ flank.

Bredwardine –
Once again the Anglican League squared up against the dastardly BUF across the
River Wye at this strategic crossing point; control of which would seal the
fate of the Royalist territories wedged between the Black Mountains and Sir
Gilbert’s Golden Valley Protectorate.

River levels were low and both sides hoped to cross and turn
the other’s flank.

Thanks to a Socialist no-show, the Anglicans were
outnumbered, but determined to win.

Dorstone – The last
remaining piece in the rebel Sir Gilbert’s jigsaw. If he could capture this Royalist
village then the whole Golden Valley railway would be under his control and he
could transport illicit contraband vital supplies to his customers
Anglican allies.

While Sir Gilbert had secured the aid of some revolutionary
anarchists, the villagers of Dorstone would have to hold on until Royalist
reinforcements could arrive.

A side-story I introduced this time around was the matter of
a certain young lady – Nemone Mortimer-Wagstaff, who held the key to
controlling the ‘Mortimer country’ in the north-west of the county. Looking for
a suitable beau, her agents were sure to be making note of any brave actions on
the part of the players – some of which had received haughty missives from an
elderly maiden aunt or concerned uncle, demanding they succeed in this love
match!

The Siege of Dorstone

Dorstone village and it's defences

I played the part of the loyal villagers of Dorstone – a small
Golden valley village practically cut off and at the mercy of the villainous
Sir Gilbert and his gangsters at one end and ragged Anarchists at the other. Barricades had been hastily erected at
the command of local lad turned big game hunter Joseph ‘Himalaya Joe’ Wagstaff
(cousin of the aforementioned young lady). He anxiously scanned the
horizon for Lord Robert Grover: a Royalist commander thought to be rushing to
the aid of the stricken village.

Anarchist Motor column advances

A shout went up: ‘anarchists!’ The Anarchists’ motorised
column had been spotted on the approaches, whilst a section of their revolutionary
horse was seen galloping in the distance. Another shout: ‘gangsters!’ Sir
Gilbert’s desperadoes were spotted at the other side of the village, his
armoured behemoths raising steam some distance behind his infantry.

Sir Gilbert's hoodlums

In this I was lucky, for thanks to a dice roll it would take 3 turns for Sir
Gilbert’s steam tanks to raise enough steam to get going. His armoured truck
also started off-road, and only reached the tarmac after much wheel-spinning in the mud.

The defenders scatter to their positions

The Royalist LDV section, supported by an HMG, rushed to the
barricades to confront the Anarchists, while the village militia went in the
opposite direction to face the hoodlums – a section of local farmers fanning
out on their flank as Sir Gilbert’s men probed to the side. At both ends of the
village Wagstaff had also stationed an improvised armoured car to support the
defenders, whilst a sniper and anti-tank rifle took up positions in a building
in readiness for Sir Gilbert’s advance.

Farmers cover the flank

In the middle of the village, the doughty ladies of the
local Women’s Institute – begrudgingly armed as a reserve section, rushed
through the churchyard to meet an anticipated charge from the Anarchist cavalry
lurking in the distance. Meanwhile in the HQ section, the local doctor made
ready to receive casualties.

Armoured car comes up in support

The Anarchists made the first move, driving their vehicles
into a hail of gunfire from the LDV. They halted, disgorged infantry, and
whipped off the cover of one of their lorries to reveal a rather large looking
gun…

Bent coppers move forward

Sir Gilbert also ordered his men forward, led by a section
of bent coppers – ‘policemen’ under the pay of the potentate. They too met with
a fusillade of fire from the stout villagers and halted. Meanwhile the anti-tank rifle crew waited in
vain for the steam tanks to appear, while the sniper took pot shots at anyone
who looked important, hitting and wounding Sir Gilbert’s NCO (who only survived
thanks to the rebel sawbones).

The farmers take casualties

However to the flank, the farmers were confronted by a
section of Sir Gilbert’s guerrillas, making good use of the hedge cover to
advance without taking serious casualties. They opened up both barrels of their
shotguns and halved the farmer’s section at a stroke, causing them to withdraw
into the nearest building to lick their wounds (and shelter from the
dispiriting drizzle that, thanks to a random event card, was sapping everyone’s
morale).

Rain rain go away...

The Anarchists had now got their lorry-mounted gun into
action, and were blasting the LDV. Their return fire did little to damage the
lorry, but at least their own improvised armoured car caught a section of the
enemy in the open as they disembarked, causing some casualties.

Anarchist flank attack through the woods

This was enough to deter any determined Anarchist charge,
but a section of their infantry did try to get around the defender’s flank by
advancing through the woods, only to meet the LDV’s Hotchkiss machinegun…

The WI race to meet the threat

With Sir Gilbert’s guerrillas infiltrating one flank, he
sent his Tommy-gun toting gangsters around the other, doing their best James
Cagney impressions as they went. Responding to this threat, the fighters of the
WI raced back into the village and towards the barricades that covered this
side of the village.

Defenders take a pounding

At opposite sides of the village, the attackers were
wavering – causing casualties yes, but taking casualties in equal measure. However
despite this fact, Dorstone was being pounded and it’s defenders were holding
on for grim death…

Reinforcements!

Suddenly a dashing horseman leaped over the village walls
and cantered into the centre. ‘Where is your CO?’ this scarlet-jacketed rider
demanded. ‘I bring greetings from Lord
Grover!’ Reinforcements had arrived!

Anarchist cavalry do a runner

Over the horizon, Lord Grover’s men could be seen! His vanguard
had driven off the Anarchist horse, and it was this that had allowed the WI to abandon the churchyard to
meet the gangster’s advance. Soon his militia were moving to confront the guerrillas.
The arrival of Lord Grover gave the defenders heart, with the remaining farmers
pulling back to the centre of the village to form an improvised section with
the NCO and HQ runners.

'Can you hear whistling?'

Lord Grover’s dashing messenger trotted up the street to Wagstaff, who had
bravely joined the barricades and was bowling over ‘policemen’ with his
elephant gun. ‘My Lord presents his compliments and requests-‘

His sentence was cut short as an ominous whistle filled the
air, followed by a nerve-shattering explosion!

Pressure mounts...

As the dust settled the village doctor patched up a wounded
and clearly stunned Wagstaff. The messenger, a tempting target for Sir Gilbert’s
spotters in his red jacket and astride a white charger, was not so lucky. ‘Incoming’
was the cry, as yet another mortar round thudded into the village green. Sir
Gilbert’s vehicles had extricated themselves from the mud, and had arrived…

Lord Grover's men

While the LDV, now joined by the anti-tank rifle team, and
sections of Grover’s force were managing to keep the Anarchists at bay, Sir
Gilbert’s flank attacks were also stalling. Yes his guerrillas had knocked out
a section of Grover’s militia, but his regulars were soon on the scene to repay
in kind.

Hell hath no fury...

The WI had also reached the barricades and turned their
Lewis gun on the cocky gangsters, who had forgotten to bring enough ammunition
and were helpless against the women’s wrath!

'It's the WI - let's scarper!'

Throughout the battle, the armoured ‘Beaverette’ car had
performed sterling service. Not only had it accounted for several ‘policemen’,
but had also seen off two failed attacks by the enemy’s tank-hunters. However
it’s luck was not to last, for once again the hunters leapt forward. The car
was ready for them, and opened up it’s machinegun, taking down one of the
attackers – a strange cross-dressing chap pushing a pram-full of explosives.
Unfortunately his comrade, a mad Scotsman reeking of strong drink, was
unscathed and planted his sticky bomb to devastating effect…

BOOM!

Sir Gilbert’s vehicles had by now reached the village, and
were bringing their machineguns to bear on the beleaguered barricade. This
combined with the mortar fire, finally broke the brave defenders, who retreated
through the carnage.

Improvised section, improvising

The improvised section now moved forward to take their
place, only to be met by a fierce charge by a scratch force of surviving bent
coppers and other lackeys of Sir Gilbert. Hand-to-hand combat ensued, with the
outnumbered villagers failing to withstand the brutal rebel thugs, who pushed
them back from the barricades and finally entered the village.

Barricade breached!

However light was fading and, although battered and bruised,
the defenders still had plenty of fight left in them. The WI were in the
process of emerging at Sir Gilbert’s flank as the charge occurred, and could possibly
have swung back to eject them from the village. The sniper was still active and
able to draw a bead on his targets, possibly including Sir Gilbert himself, if
he had chosen, like his far more courageous counterpart ‘Himalaya Joe’, to lead
from the front.

Anarchists holding back

At the other side of the village the Anarchists showed
little sign of renewing the attack (rumour had it that their CO, if Anarchists
have such a thing, was secretly enamoured with Wagstaff’s cousin, the famous
Nemone).

Not all the hoodlums are so keen

Lord Grover’s men had also by now arrived in force, armoured
vehicles and all, and with Sir Gilbert’s infantry either running away or
battered from the charge, could have soon re-established control of the
village.

Grover's men enter the village

And so the day drew to a close with an honourable draw.

I didn’t have chance to record the events on the other
tables, but it appears that at Bredwardine, neither side was able to force
passage over the river - ‘Can’t we do something more interesting next time?’
being the cry (be careful what you wish for…) It seems that both sides have
given up trying to secure the bridge – maybe an indication that the border region
is dwindling in importance?

Action at the river crossing

Things were a little more clear-cut at Kinnersley however,
with the Royalists convincingly beating back the Anglican assault after some spectacular
explosions and, if rumours are to be believed, a gallant Royalist captain
single-handedly destroying an Anglican tank with his sword! Ms.
Mortimer-Wagstaff’s agent is reported to have looked on with interest...

Taking out a tank with a sword!?

Once again a great day’s gaming with some sterling gents
(and lady), who all entered into the spirit of things with gusto. We used a
trial version of ‘Went the Day Well?’, which prompted some head scratching, but
all issues were settled in the usual friendly manner. Bravo to all
participants!

More action at Kinnersley

So what happens next? I think it's pretty clear that the border campaign has run it's course. The Anglican League and their allies, while making some strategic gains, have been unable to fully consolidate in the region, with many important railway junctions and river crossings still in government hands.

While the BUF have once again failed to cover themselves in glory the more moderate Royalists have risen to the occasion, pushing back the rebels and ensuring that the lifeline from Hereford to the loyal pockets along the border are still intact, leaving Sir Gilbert's Golden Valley territory extremely vulnerable.

The Welsh nationalists have retreated to Kington and are under siege, whilst the various left-wing factions have been unable to put their stamp on proceedings and are losing what little influence they had in the county. Lots for me to think about...

Rob (Lord Grover)'s view of proceedings is here.
Giles' report of the fighting at Bredwardine starts off here.
Sir Gilbert's latest propaganda nonsense is here.
Newcomers Alan and Rita's account of the action at Bredwardine is here.
The Bishop of Ludlow's tale is here.

Hi Neil,You'd be welcome to come along!Typical platoon sizes are 3 x 10 man infantry squads, about 5 HQ figs, a support weapon or two, some vehicles and an optional infantry squad or a Heath-Robinson contraption, so about 40-ish figures.However we're all happy to lend out models on the day if a player needs anything!.

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Some organisations featured in the VBCW universe possess extreme right-wing or left-wing political views. I do not subscribe to these views, nor do I wish to promulgate them. Basically, this blog is essentially a work of fiction and no offence is intended.